Jeff Shell is leaving as chief government of NBCUniversal after an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct with a feminine colleague, mum or dad firm Comcast stated on Sunday.

Shell, who has served as the highest government of the media community since January 2020, stated in an announcement offered by Comcast that he “had an inappropriate relationship with a girl within the firm”. Comcast stated his dismissal comes after an investigation led by outdoors counsel.

A 19-year veteran of the corporate, Shell oversaw a sprawling empire at NBCUniversal, starting from the NBC tv networks to the Common movie studios and resorts. Lately he has grappled with the problem of elevating subscriptions on the Peacock streaming service, which has reached greater than 20mn prospects however lags far behind Netflix and Disney Plus.

Shell’s staff — which incorporates Common chair Donna Langley and Mark Lazarus, head of the tv and streaming enterprise — will now report back to Mike Cavanagh, Comcast’s president.

Individuals who have labored with Shell say he had lengthy loved the belief of Brian Roberts, Comcast chair and CEO. In a memo to employees seen by the FT, Roberts stated he was “disillusioned” to share the information of Shell’s departure. He added that staff ought to be capable of depend on “leaders to create a secure and respectful office”.

“When our rules and insurance policies are violated, we are going to at all times transfer rapidly to take acceptable motion, as we’ve got completed right here,” Roberts wrote within the memo, which was additionally signed by Cavanagh.

Shell’s departure follows different high-profile dismissals at NBC. In 2020, Common vice-chair Ron Meyer was fired after confessing to creating a settlement with a girl over a consensual affair. Matt Lauer, as soon as the face of US morning information staple the At the moment present, was fired in 2017 after claims of inappropriate sexual behaviour with staffers.